Please Bend Down a Little

A carefree troublemaker vs. a gentle, quiet girl

Blurb:

The first time Ruan Tong met Zhou Chi was when he moved into her home.

At the time, the two had nothing to do with each other. He was the son of the family her mother used to work for as a housekeeper in Yunqi City.

A born winner, clearly someone on a different path from her.

Ruan Tong kept that in mind. At school, she did her best to avoid talking to him too much, not wanting their classmates to notice anything between them and cause trouble.

After evening study hall, beneath a cool crescent moon, the two walked home along a narrow path, one behind the other.

Zhou Chi, walking in front, suddenly stopped and turned around, hands in his pockets. "Do you hate me, deskmate?"

He thought she did, since he'd made her cry the first time they met.

Ruan Tong hadn't expected him to ask. She gently shook her head. "No."

"Then why do you always ignore me?"

He never got an answer to that question, not even after the college entrance exams were over.

-

"The exams are over. Can you say yes to me now?"

"Come on, say yes."

The boy gazed at her with yearning in his dark eyes. Ruan Tong's heart raced beyond her control, but she thought of something and couldn't bring herself to agree.

"Can you wait a little longer?"

Zhou Chi took it as a sign that she was saying yes and was overjoyed. "Sure."

Who could have guessed that he'd end up waiting four years?

-

They met again at a matchmaking event.

After leaving without a word back then, Ruan Tong had never imagined they'd meet again, much less under these circumstances.

The man she'd been set up with was polite and well-spoken, but Ruan Tong still couldn't bring herself to feel interested. She honestly explained how she felt. "I'm sorry, but I don't plan to get married anytime soon. I only came to this matchmaking event to appease my family. I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

The man smiled faintly. "You don't need to apologize. I'm not your match."

Ruan Tong froze, then followed his gaze.

Not far away stood a man in a perfectly tailored suit. Years had passed in a flash, and the boyish innocence that had once clung to him was long gone.

It was Zhou Chi...

Ruan Tong instinctively got up to leave, but Zhou Chi grabbed her arm. "Why are you running?"

His voice was slightly hoarse, with a faint tremor that was hard to detect. His gaze fixed on her, intense and steady, as he said each word with utmost seriousness: "This time, I'm not giving you another chance to run away."

Not ever.

Note: Both leads have only ever been with each other. Most of the story takes place at school, and the leads don't date while they're students.

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Coming next: Every Year, Orange Blossoms

Everyone at Huaquan No. 1 High School knows that Song Chengyi from Class 13 of Grade 11 has a childhood friend who's one year older than her: Wen Song.

During a break on a sweltering summer day, Wen Song shows up right on time outside Class 13 of Grade 11, carrying a bottle of chilled watermelon juice.

Framed by the doorway, the tall, long-legged boy lowers his brows slightly and glances at the girl sleeping with her head on her desk. He casually asks the student sitting by the window to pass the drink to her.

-

High school life is dull and monotonous, and the slightest rumor can grow into a whole story.

After evening study hall, Wen Song waits beneath the school building. His silhouette, sculpted by the moonlight, looks more devoted than ever, and the students watching can't help wondering once again whether his feelings for Song Chengyi go beyond friendship.

When asked about it, Song Chengyi answers with absolute conviction, "He doesn't like me."

Because she doesn't like Wen Song at all!

-

Song Chengyi starts Grade 12, while Wen Song begins his first year of college. They are now in different cities.

She's thrilled. Wen Song can't keep tabs on her anymore, and she can finally pursue the person she has a crush on!

But before she can even get her crush to go on a date, her parents catch on to the signs that she's dating and give her a stern talking-to.

Someone has told her parents, and she realizes what's going on and confronts Wen Song. "Was it you?!"

The voice on the other end of the phone is cool and unwavering. "Song Chengyi, I never gave you permission to date."

Theme: I came for you